After continued protests from anti-war protesters, Indiana University is adjusting tours of its Bloomington campus.
On May 29, the Office of Admissions announced a decision to temporarily pause Discover IU tours in an email by Senior Assistant Director Rafael Cronin. In the email, Cronin wrote protesters had yelled over tour guides and walked beside tour groups mostly made up of prospective students and families.
IU Police Department officers were present Friday during campus tours. The officers were there to assist the tour groups, warn protesters and enforce policy, IU Spokesperson Mark Bode confirmed in an emailed statement. IUPD officers have also been present at previous tours.
The statement added that the Office of Admissions temporarily moved to self-guided tours “following an increase of disruption to tours by demonstrators.” This shift is a standard contingency, used during extreme weather and under other circumstances “that impact the safety of tour guides and prospective students and families,” it said.
“IU's First Amendment Policy maintains that conduct that interferes with or substantially disrupts the functioning of the university, including admissions tours, is not permissible,” the statement said. “Those found in violation of IU’s policies by disrupting tours may be detained, arrested and face criminal charges depending on the nature of the disruption. If those violating the policies are IU students, they will be subject to the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. This may result in a number of different outcomes, including a conduct record.”
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Supporters of the IU Divestment Coalition have camped in Dunn Meadow since April 25, and they plan to stay until their demands are met. They want IU to disclose and divest from partnerships, affiliations and programs with Israel. They’re also demanding IU end its relationship with NSWC Crane and dismiss senior university officials. Fifty-seven protesters have been arrested.
On Friday, a divestment coalition spokesperson, who requested to stay anonymous, said the group protests for the liberation of Palestine and colonized people.
“We're exercising our First Amendment rights, our rights to free speech,” the spokesperson said. “Despite all of this pushback from the university, ultimately it's IU who’s caving in.”
Pro-Palestine protesters have followed campus tours for months. In Cronin’s email, he noted that protesters were not allowed to physically or verbally impede a tour or to “directly follow a group.” But protests did not stop even in the presence of IUPD officers.
The divestment coalition spokesperson confirmed protesters have been following campus tours several times a week. They know tour routes and have spoken to incoming students and parents. They hold signs and stand along tour spots.
The spokesperson said police have followed the protesters, and the administration has tried to intimidate them.
“We haven't violated anyone's safety,” the spokesperson said. “We haven't yelled any hate speech. We haven't spewed any hate speech. We haven't physically touched anyone or pushed anyone or rushed on any one space.”
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As visitors walk between stops, protesters will occasionally disrupt the tour, the spokesperson said.
“We say a little bit about IU’s complicity in genocide, some facts about their investments with Crane, some facts about how they suppress free speech and students who are organizing for Palestinian liberation,” the spokesperson said.
They will continue to “show up for Palestinian liberation, whatever it takes.”
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on X @aubreymwright .
